Lateral Violence:The Behaviours That HurtUs All

What is lateral violence and how can it be addressed?

Lateral violence is taking the anger that should be directed at an oppressor and directing that anger at a peer, community member or family memberinstead.Lateral violence in First Nations communities is also known as “internalized colonialism” or “intra-racial conflict.” Lateral violence has just started to be named for what it is, a pattern of inter-generational learned behaviours designed to make oppressed people continue to oppress each other.

The Southern Stl’atl’imx Health Society is working to change this by address-ing the root cause of this negative and damaging behaviour: colonialism. Colonization, with its racist Indian Act and Indian Residential and Day Schools, taught us that our language and culture were wrong, and that we were not valued as people with a distinct way of life.

Unable to fight back against the abuses of the colonizers, we turned our anger against each other, spreading our pain on our peers, family and other community members.

Lateral violence is most often seen in the workplace but it can also happen

in families and the community.

Lateral violence is a vicious cycle. It’s common that victims of lateral violence end up using lateral violence against others. This is understandable. When someone in authority makes you feel bad about yourself its often difficult to confront that person. The pain, anger and shame of being hurt has to go somewhere. Often that “somewhere” is a “someone” with less power.

When you know the behaviours to lookfor, it becomes easy to recognize

lateral violence anywhere.

While lateral violence can sometimes include physical abuse, more often than not it is emotionally and mentally abusive. The following are some common behaviours that are used to oppress people, making them feel worthless, insecure, depressed and anxious.

Being a victim of lateral violence can have a serious impact on your emotional

health and well-being.

Lateral violence makes us doubt our abilities and our worth. It affects our ability to trust others and develop meaningful relationships. It fuels un-happiness and addiction. Lateral violence effects our emotional, mental, physical and spiritual health.

It’s time to end this behaviours that keeps us apart and unable to move forward in a healthy, kind and loving ways. SSHS is promoting the idea that lateral kindness can and should be applied to all our interactions with each other through The SSHS Kindness Project. Visit the project at www.sshskindnessproject.ca and download posters, the Stl’atl’imx Friends’ Lateral Kindness CD and The Kindness Pledge. It’s also a place to share your stories and learn about living a decolonized life.

• Bullying • Name calling • Breaking confidences • Malicious gossiping • Scapegoating • Social exclusion• Shaming• Backstabbing• Family feuds• Open jealousy and envy • Using hurtful nicknames• Cyber-bullying

• Non-verbal bullying such as eye-rolling, obscene gestures and raising eyebrows• Embarrassing someone• Sabotage• Disrespecting privacy• Sarcasm• Snide remarks• Withholding information• Attacking someone’s cultural identity

Responding to lateral violence isn’t always easy but there is support to help you

fi nd the courage and solutions.

One of the most eff ecti ve ways of addressing lateral violence is to simply ask the person using laterally violent behaviours to stop. However, confrontati on can be diffi cult, luckily there are other ways to address lateral violence.

Addressing workplace lateral violence

• Record the lateral violence behaviours aimed at you. Write down the date, ti me and locati on of the incident and the names of witnesses.• Report the behaviour to the appropriate manager.• Ask your workplace human resources manager for help to deal with the issue.• Get advice from someone outside your workplace.

Addressing family/community lateral violence

• Speak to an Elder for guidance on how to resolve the issue. • Find support others who have had similar experiences. • Seek the advice of friends and family.

Healing from lateral violence

Both the SSHS and First Nati ons Health Authority provide culturally safe counsel-ling to help deal with the eff ects of lateral violence.

SSHS Counselling ServicesFor more informati on call 604-894-0151.

KUU-US Crisis Response Services helpline24-hour help line for Elders, adults, youth and children.Toll free Adult/Elder line: 1-800-588-8717 Toll free Child/Youth line: 1-800-588-8717